Boy names have inspired me lately. Here are some brilliant names with masculine swagger and a bit of 1960’s charm. If I were to write a novel with beatnik characters, these would be the names of the male characters. In my opinion they embody the motorcycle-riding poet.

These names were loosely inspired by the media portrayal of beatniks from the late 50’s-early 60’s. Beatniks were portrayed young adults who wore black turtlenecks with berets, hung out in coffee shops, recited poetry and expressed anti-establishment sentiments. They were precursors to the hippies.

These weren’t necessarily names of real beatniks or popular baby names in the 60’s, but most have a retro feel and many have artistic or literary associations. These names seem cultured with an edge.